The2018–2019 education workers' strikes in the United States began on February 22, 2018, after local activists compelled the West Virginia state leadership of the West Virginia branches of the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association into holding a strike vote. The strike—which ended when teachers returned to their classrooms on March 7—inspired similar, statewide strikes inOklahoma andArizona. It also inspired smaller-scale protests by school staff in Kentucky, North Carolina, Colorado, and led to aschool bus driver strike in Georgia. Additionally, around this time,adjunct professors atVirginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginiaprotested over pay.
The strikes continued in the fall of 2018 when there was a collective bargaining shortcoming between theUnited Teachers Los Angeles union and theLos Angeles Unified School District in September 2018, prompting astrike that began in January 2019. This also resulted in a teachers' walkout in Virginia, a long-time right-to-work state, as well as inDenver andOakland, California.[8][9] The national wave of strikes has been referred to asRed for Ed or#RedForEd, with striking workers often wearing red shirts to show solidarity.[10][11] Reasons given for the choice of the color red range from the fact that many of the initial strikes were inred (Republican-controlled) states to the idea that public school budgets arein the red.[10]
Motivations for the strikes included desire for increased wages for teachers and support staff, larger school budgets, smaller classrooms, and other issues. The strikes varied in their levels of success, with the West Virginia strike considered mostly successful, where Oklahoman teachers received relatively few concessions.
This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2018)
Discussions of a strike inWest Virginia began in early 2018. In the first week of February, teachers staged "walk-ins" at schools and some protested at the West Virginia Capitol.[12] The strike proved successful, and inspired those in other states to strike as well.[13]
In early April, Oklahoma became thesecond state to strike, making it the first time a teacher's strike was held in the state since 1990.[14] The strike lasted for nearly 10 days, from April 2–12, after teacher salaries were increased by $6,000 and support staff salaries were increased by $1,250.[15]
In late April, teachers in Arizona and in Colorado went on strike. TheColorado strike began on April 27[16] and ended on May 12,[17] while theArizona Strike lasted from April 26 to May 3.[18]
In May 2018, it was reported that teachers in North Carolina could be next to strike, making it the fifth state to have a teachers' strike.[19] This was due to the state being ranked 41st in the nation in salaries for teachers, and per pupil spending at negative 12 percent.[20] Further, it was reported that teachers in North Carolina have seen a five percent decrease in salaries since 2008. Furthermore, teachers hired after January 1, 2021, will not receive health benefits, along with teachers having to pay $10,000 per year in out of pocket health insurance.[21]
Because of a majority of the strikes being in predominantly Republican Party-controlled, conservative states, the strikes have been referred to as the "Red State Revolt".[22][23][24][25][26] This has prompted several Republican politicians to concede to their demands, in the run-up to the2018 mid-term elections.[27][22]
One of the largest reasons for decreasing teacher pay and less funding for schools is the large amount of money diverted from current budgets to pay educators' unfunded pension liabilities.[28]: 1For example: "In Colorado, school district payments to the public pension fund have roughly doubled since 2006, from about 10 percent of payroll to 20 percent."[28]
A 2016 study found that only 30% of the money that school districts pay towards the retirement benefits of an educator actually go toward that educator's pension, with 70% being used to pay off unfunded debt in that pension system.[28]: 1
Universally, demands included raising pay.[29][30] In Oklahoma and West Virginia, respectively sources ofoil andcoal, demands included financing the increased spending on education through taxation focused on these industries.[31][32]
Original reason for the strike included the state's plan to force teachers to usefitbit to be allowed to keep subscribing to the same healthplan or face a $500 annual fine.[33]
This article needs to beupdated. The reason given is:does not include the latest strike in Nashville, TN or the latest strike in Chicago, Illinois November 2019 (3rd largest district in the US). Please help update this graphic to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2019)
Strikes and protests lead to increase in education pay and funding.
Strikes and protests did not lead to government action.
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Arizona
California
Colorado
Georgia
Kentucky
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
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